Calculating device



Jan. 19, 1954 vR. A. EDWARDS CALCULATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed0G13. 26, 1949 InQTc- Robert A. Edwards,

by Mia?? Y Hts Attorh ey.

Jan. 19, 1954 v R. A. EDWARDS 2,666,515?

` CALCULATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QR l l L l s Xn Q. w A

l WN ,n N5 N a r co f 'v gg. N l. WW 4 Inventor-z Robert A.Edwa`ds, l()h E, by @AQ N T Hns At-orney.

zgatented Jan. 19, 1954 'CALCULATIN G DEVICE Robert A. Edwards,Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application October 26, 1949, Serial No. 123,700

9 Claims.

This invention relates to calculating devices and has `for its object asimple and reliable electronic shifting register for shifting a binarynumber stored therein in controlled digit displacement to the right orleft of `its original storage position as desired.

The shifting register device is intended for use in conjunction with ashifting adder component to -form with the latter the arithmetic.element of a binary digital computer. The function of the shiftingregister of this invention is to multiply or divide a binary number by 2any required number of times by successively shifting the number in onedigit displacement left or right respectively for each multiplicationrordivision. For example, assuming the binary number 1010 whose decimalequivalent is l0, such binary number may be divided by 2 by shiftingthe,` digits one place to the right thereby forming the binary number0101.0 whose equivalent in the decimal system is 5. Conversely byshifting the digits of binary number 1010 one digit to the left thebinary number 10100 is formed whose decimal equivalentrs 20. Bysuccessively shifting the digits of a binary number to the right or lefta complete series of division or multiplication of the number .by 2resuits.

In general, my invention comprises a rst and a second pluralityoiip-iiop circuits, means storing any particular binary number 'm thelirst plurality ofcircuits, means transferring the number to the secondplurality of circuits in corresponding digital relation, means shiftingthe binary number back to the rst plurality of circuits in a desireddigit displacement and meanscontrolling the direction of suchdisplacement.

' For a complete understanding of my'invention, reference should be hadto the following specinca-tion and the accompanying drawings. in whichsimilar members are given the same character references throughout thedrawings. In the drawings Figures la and lb combined are adiagrammatical view of Yan electrical circuit of a shifting registerillustrative of my'invention.

Referring to the drawing, in accordance with my invention I provide ahigh speed electronic shifting register I comprising ak iirst pluralityof flip-nop -circuitsr2 5 and a second plurality of nip-flop circuits 69. Each of the nip-flop circuits 9 are identical and comprise a clearreceiver grid-biased electronic tube I0 having an anode ii, a controlgrid l2, andcathode i3 and a numbers receiver-grid-biased electronic`tube l having an anode i5, a control grid i16,-and a cathode I?. Theanodes H and I5 vare electrically connected respectively through anodeplate resistors vI3 and i9 to the positive side of a source ofpotential, which I have represented as volts, the negative side of thissource being connected to ground and the oathodes I3 and I1 beingconnected to the negative side of this source byv a ground-connectionZ.

To provide alternate operation of the tubes I9 and I4, one on and theother 01T, to represent thereby in each of the flip-flop circuits 2 9the character of a particular binary digit, I provide resistor andcapacitor means electrically connecting the anode of one tube to thecontrol grid of the other; that is, I provide a resistor 2| and acapacitor 22 electrically connected in parallel between anode II andgrid I6 and a resistor 23 and capacitor 24 electrically connected inparallel between the anode I5 and the control grid I2. With thisarrangement, assuming the condition of tube I0 conducting and tube It01T to represent ineach flip-flop circuit the storage of the binarycharacter 0 therein and the reverse relationship of tube I4 conductingandtube IG oi to represent the binary character I stored in eachflip-flop circuit, then, if in flip-flop circuit 2, for exampleytube `itwere conducting and tube I0 01T, indicating the storage of the binarycharacter i in ilip-iiop circuit 2, and it were desired to store thecharacter 0 inplace of 1 therein, such changemay be accomplished bylowering the voltage of anode II; that is, by lowering the voltage ofanode Il the voltage of grid IIE whichy is electrically connectedthereto is lowered. The lowering of the voltage on grid It interruptsthe conductivity of numbers tube I4 and thereby raises the :anodevoltage thereof, that is, of anode I5. By thus raising the voltage ofanode I5 the voltage ofgrid lf2 of tube I6 is raised and tube ItbecomesL conductive. Y Thus, by lowering the anode voltage of tube I0thevconductivity of tube It is interrupted and tube IB becomesconductive thereby representing in flip-dop circuit 2 the storage of thebinary character 0 in place of the binary character l; In a similarmanner, if tube IQ is conducting and tube It nonconducting, therebyrepresenting the storage of the binary character 0 in a particular oneof the flip-flop circuits, tostore a l in place of the 0 the anodevoltage of the numberstube ifi may be lowered.

if the clear tube I6 were conducting and numbers` tube t4 ofhtherebyrepresenting the storage of a .0in the fliplopcircuity and the anodevoltage of tube ii) Iwere lowered, thereby calling forthe.samebinary.,chal'acter, no change vin conductivev conditions Yoithetubes .I0 and M would result because tube i0, being alreadyconducting, would not be aifected by a limited lowering of its anodevoltage, and tube I4 being in a nonccnduotive condition, a furtherlowering of its grid voltage would merely present an added impediment toa condition of conduction therein. The same is true if a 1 were storedin a flip-flop circuit and a call were received for the storage of a lby lowering the anode voltage of the nurnbers tube associated therewith.Thus, by lowering the anode voltage of a clear receiver electronic tubeof a flip-flop circuit, such voltage variation will have no effect if aZero is already stored therein but will change a l stored therein tc azero, and a lowering of the anode voltage of a numbers receiverelectronic tube of a flip-flop circuit will change the stored numberfrom to l if a zero is stored in the circuit and otherwise will leavethe circuit in the same condition indicating that a l is already storedtherein.

Applying the principles described above to the rst plurality of nip-flopcircuits 2 5 it is possible then to store any binary number of fourdigit length in the flip-flop circuits 2 5 by first clearing all of thecircuits, that is, by lowering the anode voltage of each of the clearreceiver tubes to store a zero in each of the nip-flop circuits.Thereafter, lowering the voltage on the anodes of selected numbersreceiver tubes stores the binary character l in the flip-nop circuitsassociated therewith.

Any suitable means may be used for lowering the anode voltages on theanodes of the clear receiver tubes as, for example, by providing a firstplurality of clear actuating electronic circuits 25 each comprising agrid-biased electronic tube 2S having an anode 2l electrically connectedto the anode I I of the clear receiver tube I0 of an associated nip-flopcircuit, a cathode 28 electrically connected to a lower Voltage withrespect to the anode voltage as, for example, the ground 20, a controlgrid 2e electrically connected to a source of negative voltage biasthrough a resistor 3c, as shown in the drawing, and to a clear line 3|common to all of said clear actuating circuits 25 through a capacitor32. Clear line 3| is connected to a suitable source of positive voltageimpulse (not shown). In this arrangement, by applying a positive voltageimpulse te the clear line 3l a positive voltage is applied to the grid29 ci each of the clear actuating tubes 26 thereby producing conductiontherein and lowering the anode voltage of each clear receiver tube le 0fthe flip-flop circuits 2 5 to store the binary character 0 in each ofthe circuit 2 5.

To actuate particular ones of the numbers receiver tubes and therebystore the binary chai'- acter l in particular ones of the flip-dopcircuits 2 5 to represent therein a particular binary number, anyplurality of suitable means, each separately operable to lower the anodevoltage of a particular one of the numbers receiver tubes I4, may beemployed. For example, a plurality or numbers actuating electroniccircuits 33 may be used, each circuit being identical in structure andoperation to the clear actuating circuits 25 and electrically connectedeach to the anode I5 o1" the numbers receiving tube i4 of a particularone of the flip-flop circuits 2 5, as shown in the drawing. To actuatethe numbers actuating circuits 33, the grids 29 of the tubes 26 thereinare electrically connected respectively to a plurality of numbers inputlines Sil-31, each `'of which is electrically connected to a separatesource (not shown) of positive voltage impulse., Thus, to

place a binary number, say 1010, in the rst plurality of flip-flopcircuits 2 5, clear line 3| is nrst pulsed to store the binary character0 in each of the flip-flop circuits 2 5 through the medium of the clearactuating circuits 25 and thereafter numbers lines 34 and 31S are pulsedto place the binary characters l in the flip-dop circuits 2 and Il.

To shift the binary number 1010 one digit to the right or one digit tothe left in the circuits 2 5 according to the desired operation of di-Vision or multiplication of the number by 2, the number is firsttransferred to the second plurality of flip-dop circuits 6 9 incorresponding digital order and then shifted back to the circuits 2 5 inone digit displaced right or left as required.

'Io accomplish the transfer of the binary number stored in circuits 2 5to the circuits 5 9 in corresponding digital order, any suitable meansis provided for varying the voltage on the anodes I I of the clearreceiver tubes I0 of the second plurality of flip-flop circuits 6 9 toYclear all of these circuits. For the purpose of illustrating myinventicn, I have shown for such meansl a second plurality of clearactuating electronic circuits 33 each identical in operation andstructure to the clear actuating circuits 25 previously described. Eachof the electronic circuits SS is electrically connected to the anode ofa particular one of the clear receiver tubes I0 of the flip-flopcircuits 6 9 and to a second clear line 39, as shown in the drawing.Clear line 3% is electrically connected to a source (not shown) ofpositive Voltage impulse. By pulsing clear line 39 the binary character0 is stored in each of the iiip-iiop circuits 6 9 through the medium ofthe circuits 38 in the same manner that flip-flop circuits 2 5 arecleared by clear line 3i and clear actuating circuits 25; that is, bypulsing clear line 39 a positive voltage is impressed on the grids 29 ofthe tubes 26 of the clear actuating circuits 3S causing tubes 25 tobecome conductive and thereby lower the anode voltage of tubes I0 in therliprlop circuits 6 9.

As a second element necessary for the transfer of a binary number fromthe nip-nop circuits 2 5 to the iiip-iiop circuits 5 9 in correspondingdigital order, I provide a plurality of positive Voltage impulseproducing members each responsive in operation to the interruption ofconductivity of a particular one of said numbers receiver tubes. Forexample, such a circuit may comprise an induction coil it and a resistoril electrically connected in parallel between the anode plate resistorI9 and the positive voltage source indicated to form a choke circuit d2.In this arrangement, when the conductivity of tube Iii is interrupted avoltage is developed by the coil t0 which produces a positive voltageimpulse in the circuit 52. Conversely, when tube Id is operated from anonconductive to conductive condition a voltage is developed in coil d@producing a negative voltage impulse in circuit @-2.

To utilize the positive voltage impulses of the circuits 42 to operatethe numbers receiver tubes Id o1" the iiip-op circuits Q in response toan interruption of conductivity of tubes I4 of circuits 2-5, a pluralityof transfer electronic circuits liB, each identical in structure andoperation to the clear actuating circuits 25 previously described, isprovided. Each of the transfer electronic circuits G3 is electricallyconnected to the choke circuit i2 of a particular one of the flipfiopcircuits 2 5 by conductors lill, to the anode .|.5 Q lille numbersreceiving tube I4 of an assoaendern f 5 cated flip-flop.` circuit of thesecond plurality ro'f -ip-ii'op circuits `6 "9 fby conductors '45,an'd'to'a source of negative voltage bias indicated, as shown in thedrawing. Thus, when .a positive voltage impulse is produced by thechokefcircuit 62 associated with a particular one'of .thefiipflopcircuits 2 5, such impulse isztransmitted through thevconductor '44associated'with 'that nip-flop circuit to a particular one ofthetransfer circuits 43 to cause the tube 26 of that transfer circuit tobecome conductive -and vthereby lower vthe anode voltage of thenumbers'receiving tube I 4 or" a particular one of the second-pluralityoffiip-flop circuits 6 9 associated with the Yparticular one of the rstplurality of flip-nop circuits 2-5. For example, an interruption ofconductivity in tube I of iiip-iiop circuit 2 causes a'positive voltageimpulse tobe transmitted from choke circuit 42 through lconductor '44Yto the transfer circuit i3 associated with `nip-flop circuit 6, therebyreducing the anode voltage of tube I4 of flip-flop circuit 6 and storingthe binary character l in 'ilip-flop circuit '5. Thus a particularbinary number stored in flip-flop circuits'2-5 is transferred tonip-flop lcircuits 6 9 in corresponding digital order.

To shift the particular binary number back to ip-flop circuits 2 5 inone digit displacement and to control the direction of suchdisplacement,

second plurality of choke circuits its or other I1 suitable impulseproducing means are electrically connected one in each of the dip-flopcircuits 5 9, as shown in the drawing, to produce a positive voltageimpulse each in response to an interruption of conductivity of thenumbers "tube t I4 of the flip-nop circuit associated therewith. Also aplurality of shift left gate electronic circuits 61 45 and a pluralityof shift right gate electronic circuits 5 52 are provided.

All of the shift left and shift right gatefcircuits 1 52 are identicaland comprise a multigrid electronic tube 53 having an anode 54, rstcontrol grid 55, arsecond control grid 56, and a cathode 57. Thecathodes 51 are electrically connected to the ground 26, and the anodes54 are electrically connected to the anodes 21 of the tubes 25 of thenumbers electronic circuits 35. The second rcontrol grids 56 areconnected to a negative voltage bias indicated each through a particularone of a plurality of resistors 5B, and each of the second control grids56 is electrically connected to an associated one of a plurality ofcoupling capacitors 58. The second control grids 56'of the shift leftgate circuits !i'I-S are electrically connected respectively to thechoke circuits 4S of the respective dip-flop circuits '1 5 throughrespective conductors-69 52, as shown in the drawing. The first controlgrids 55 of the shift left gate circuits47 49 are electrically connectedeach to a selective source 'of positive and negative voltage impulses(not shown) through respective conductors 63 55. The second controlgrids "56 of the vshift right gate circuits 50-52 are electricallyconnected respectively to the choke circuits -46 of the respectiveflip-flop circuits 5 8 through respective conductors66 68, as shown inthe drawing.

`The first control `grids 55 of the shift right gate circuits 50-52 areelectrically connected each to aselected source of positive'and negativevoltage impulses (not shown) through respective conductors 'GS H. Thetubes 53,:.gof the r`shift left and shift right gate circuits M -52 are.arranged to .operate to conductive-condition lonly whenibothvtheccontrc'il grids 55 land-56 are simultaneously'impressed'with a:positive voltage impulse, "and when .in conductive condition eachlowers :the anode voltage of the 4numbers receiver tube =I4 of' theparticular one of the rst plurality nofiiip-op circuits 2 5 to which theshiftleft orshift right gate circuit is connected, thus vstoringtlfieIbinary-character 1 in that particular fip-iiop circuit.

Bymeans'tof'the multigrid control of tubes 53 of the :shift left and"shift right gate circuits 41--552 :it is :possible vto 'control thedirection of displacement of ,abinary number as it is shifted fromtheip-'op circuits 6 9 to circuits 2 5. For examplefassuming `that aparticular binary number is vstored .in Ythe nip-flop circuits 6 9 andthat .the .character `of the particular binary digit represented .by thedip-nop circuit 'I isv the binary character 1,'to transfer the'binarycharacter l fromflip-flop circuit 'I to flip-flop circuit 2,- that is,.in onefdigit displacement to the left of its'ioriginal stored positionin the first plurality offflip-.op circuits 2 5, the rst control grid`55 of the electronicA tube 53 of the shift right gatefcircuit 5I :isimpressed with a negative voltage Athrough the `conductor 'I6 to preventthe transferoff't'he .binary character 1 from flip-nop circuit I toflip-flop .circuit `4. 'Moreoven the rst control-grid of the electronictube 53 or the shift left gate lcircuit il is impressed with a positivevoltage through the conductor 63 to condition the tube 53 for operationin response to the vapplication of afpositive voltage impulse to thesecond'control grid 56 thereof.

'To apply such positive voltage to the second control grid 56'oftheelectronic tube 53 of the shift left gate kcircuit 41, the clear line 39is pulsed with .a Vpositive voltage to interrupt the conductivity of the`numbers tube Eli of the flipflop circuit 1, thereby producing apositive voltage impulse from the choke circuit 46 thereof, whichpositive voltage is impressed upon the second Icontrol grid'56 of theshift left gate circuit d'l'through theconductor 66 and the capacitor59. Thus 'both the .first and second control grids `55 and 56 vCif theshift left gate circuit 4i are impressed with a Ypositive voltage tooperate theelectronic tube 153 thereofto conductive condition an'dthereby lower the anode voltage of the numbers tube I4 ofiiip-op circuit2 to store the binary character 1 in flip-flop circuit L. Therefore, by'selective control of the voltage applied to theirlrst controlgrids ofthe shift left gate tube 'Lof circuit 41 and the shift right gate tubeofcircut15I, the binary character 1 stored in flip-.nop `circuit I .istransferred to nip-dop circuit 2. As ia further use of the control meansprovided bythe rst control grids 55 of the shift leftiand shiftrightgate tubes, such first control grids'55'may be impressed with anegative voltage to 'prevent .the 'transfer of a binary character l'fromany'of the vsecond plurality of ipdopcircuits 6 9 tothe rst plurality ofiiip-iiop circuits 2 5. Thislis desirable at the time that theiiip-flopcir'cuits 6 9 arebeing cleared for receipt'of'a binary fnumberfrom the first plurality of ip-op circuits 2 5 since it is desirable insuch clearing of the second plurality of flip-flop 'circuits 6 9 to alsomaintain the iirst lplurality of ilip-op circuits 2 5 in the clearedcondition vto which they have been operated'asrdescribed below.

Toshowia completeoperation of shifting registeras above described,Aassume itis desirable to'divide the binary number 1G16 by 2. Suchoperation is perforniedby first pulsing" the clear line 3l. In thisoperation the anode voltage of clear receiver tubes I of the nip-flopcircuits 2 5 is lowered through the medium of the clear actuatingcircuits and all of the tubes Il) remain or are placed in conductivecondition. Those of numbers tubes I4 of the flip-flop circuits 2 5 whichwere conducting are interrupted. The interruption of such tubes lliprovides, through the medium of their associated choke circuits 42, apositive voltage impulse from each choke circuit which impulses operateeach on a particular one of the transfer tubes of circuits i3 to operatethe numbers receiver tube ifi associated therewith and store the binarycharacter 1 in certain of the flip-flop circuits Q. Flipop circuits Eare now clear but flip-flop circuits E il may or may not have the binarycharacter 1 stored in particular circuits thereof. The storage at thistime of the character 1 in any of the flip-flop circuits t-S isundesirable as it is necessary to have the circuits 6 9 clear for aproper transfer of a particular number from circuits 2 5 to 6 9; thatis, if a 1 were stored in circuit l, for example, and it were desired totransfer the number 1010 from circuitsv 2 5 to 6 9, the result of suchattempted transfer would result in the binary number 1110 in thecircuits i-Q instead of the proper binary number 1010. Therefore, havingcleared the circuits 2 5, to clear circuits B Q of any binary characters1 inadvertently transferred thereto by clearing circuits 2 5, circuits 69 are thereafter cleared by pulsing the clear line i. ln performing thisoperation clear line 35i is pulsed with a positive voltage to lower thevoltage on the anodes of the clear receiver tubes l0 of the secondplurality of flip-flop circuits b .f-i through the medium of the secondplurality of clear actuating circuits 38, as previously described.

However, it should be noted that if either the shift left or shift rightgate circuits are in a position to operate by having a positive Voltageimpressed on the first control grids 55 of the tubes 53 thereof, then ifthe binary character 1 is stored in any of the circuits 5 9 such numberwill be shifted back to the first plurality of circuits 2 5 when theclear line 3Q is pulsed. This is undesirable because the circuits 3 5must be clear to insert therein a particular binary number upon which itis desired to operate. Therefore, to maintain a clear condition ofcircuits 2 5 while clear line 39 is being pulsed, a negative bias isapplied to the control grids 5E of the tubes 53 of both the shift leftand shift right gate circuits to such tubes nonconducting.

After clearing both pluralities of .nip-flop circuits 2-5 and 5 5,certain of the numbers input lines 3ft-3l are pulsed to store aparticular binary number in circuits 2 5. For exampie, to store thebinary number 1010 therein numbers inputs 3ft and 30 are pulsed therebyoperating numbers receiver tubes ill of flip-nop circuits 2 and ithrough the medium of the numbers actuating circuits 33 associatedtherewith to store the binary character 1 in each of circuits 2 and 4i.To transfer the binary munber 1010 from circuits 2 5 to circuits 5 3 incorresponding digital relation clear line 3| is pulsed to produce apositive voltage pulse on grids 2? of tubes 245 of the clear actuatingcircuits 25 causing tubes Z to become conductive and thereby interruptthe conductivity of tubes I4 of the nip-flop circuits 2 and 4. Theinterruption of conductivity in tubes i4 of thelipop circuits 2 and 4produces a positive voltage impulse from the choke circuits 112associated therewith and the impulses thus produced act upon thetransfer circuits 43 associated with fliplop circuits and 8 to produceconductivity in the numbers receiver tubes I4 of the circuits S and S.Thus the binary characters 1 are transferred from circuits 2 and tocircuits and il and the binary number now stored in flip-flop circuits 69 s 1010. The ip-flop circuits 2 5 are now clear.

To shift the number 1010 from flip-flop circuits 6-9 back to circuits 25 in one digit displacement to the right, that is, to divide the binarynumber 1010 by 2, the tubes 53 of the shift left gate circuits il-i9 aremade inoperative by applying a negative voltage to the first controlgrids 55 thereof 'through conductors @3 65, and the tubes 53 of theshift right gate circuits st are conditioned for operation by impressinga positive voltage on the grids 53 thereof through conductors 6l 'il.Thereafter clear line 3e is pulsed to interrupt the conductivity of thenurnbers receiving tubes Ill of the circuits E5 and B. Suchinterruptions produce positive voltage impulses from the choke circuits:it associated wit circuits 6 and 8 and the impulses act on the secondcontrol grids 56 of the tubes 3 of the shift right gate circuits 50 and52 to produce a conductive condition in the tubes 53 thereof and therebylower the anode voltage of numbers receiver tubes ill of the flip-nopcircuits 3 and s to store the binary character 1 therein. Thus, thebinary number in circuits 2 5 is now 0101, which is the binary number1010 divided by 2.

Successive divisions by 2 may be accomplished in the same manner and thesize of binary nurnber which may be handled and the number of successivedivisions possible is limited only by the number of flip-liep circuitsin each plurality of nip-flop circuits. Multiplication is accomplishedin the same manner by operating the shift left gate circuits and makingthe shift right gate circuits inoperative.

Therefore, in accordance with my invention have provided a shiftingregister simple in structure and reliable in operation to store anygiven binary number of any number ci digits and thereafter controllablyshift such binary number successively in one digit displacement to theright or left of its original stored position as desired.

Such a register is useful in conjunction with a shifting binary adderand a static register suitably coupled thereto to form therewith a highspeed binary calculator capable of multiplying or dividing any binarynumber by another binary number, in which case it will be understoodthat various control circuits may be energized in response to voltagepulses received from associated elements of a binary digital computer.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modiiications may be made without departing from myinvention in its broader aspects and I, therefore, aim in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising a first pluralityof ip-flop circuits, means for'actuating each of said circuits torepresent the character of a particular digit of a binary number therebyto store and clear said binary number in said circuits, said meanscomprising a plurality of clear actuating electronic circuits and aplurality of numbers actuating electronic circuits, one clear actuatingcircuit and one numbers actuating circuit being electrically connectedto each ci said nip-flop circuits, means for operating selected ones ofsaid numbers actuating electronic circuits to store a particular binarynumber in said plurality of flip-flop circuits,

' means for simultaneously operating all of said clear actuatingelectronic circuits to clear said flip-nop circuits of said particularbinary numbers stored therein, a second plurality of flipflop circuitseach associated with a particular one of said first plurality of iiip-opcircuits,

means responsive to the operation of said first:

plurality of nip-flop circuits in response to the operation of 'saidclear actuating electronic circuits for transferring said binary numberin corresponding digital order from said irst plurality of flip-nopcircuits to said second plurality of flip-flop circuits, and means fortransferring said binary number from said second plurality of flip-flopcircuits back to said first plurality of flip-nop circuits in one digitdisplacement with resp-ect to the original storage of said numbertherein and for controlling the direction of displacement of saiddigits;

2. A shifting register for binary numberscomprising a rst plurality offlip-nop circuits, means for actuating selectively each of said circuitsto represent the character or a particular digit of circuits incorresponding digital order,'said means comprising a second plurality ofclear actuating circuits each electrically connected to one of saidsecond plurality of flip-flop circuits to clear the same, a p-luralityof choke circuits electrically connected one to each of saidA rstplurality of nip-flop circuits for current flow therethrough in responseto a particular actuation of said nipflop circuit associated therewithand having thereacross control voltages of one polarity in response to achange in current flow therethrough in one direction and controlvoltages of opposite polarities in response to a change in currentiiovv` therethrough in the reverse direction, and a plurality oftransfer electronic circuitselectrically interconnecting each of saidchoke circuits with an associated one of said second plurality ofnipfiop circuits and operating in response toY said control voltages ofone polarity of said choke circuits, and means transferring said binarynumber from said second plurality of flip-nop circuits back to said rstplurality of flip-flop cir-` cuits'in one digit displacement Withrespect to the original storage position of said number thereinand forcontrolling the direction of dis,- placement of said digits.

3. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising a irst plurality ofnip-flop circuits, means for actuating selectively each o1` saidcircuits to 10 represent the character of a particular digit of abinarynumber thereby to store a particular binary number in saidcircuits, said means comprising a plurality of clear actuatingelectronic circuits and a plurality of numbers actuating electroniccircuits, one clear circuit and one nurnbers circuit being electricallyconnected to each ot said nip-flop circuits,` a second plurality offlip-flop circuits each associated with a particular ene of said rstplurality of flip-flop circuits, meansA transferring said binary numberfrom said first plurality of :dip-dop circuits to said second pluralityofv hip-nop circuits in corresponding digital' order, said meanscomprising a second plurality of clear actuating electronic circuitseach electrically connected to one of said second plurality of fiip-iiopcircuits to clear the same, a plurality of choke circuits electricallyconnec-ted one to each of said rst plurality of iiipop circuits forcurrent flow therethrough in response to a particular actuation of saidiiip-iiop circuit associated therewith and having thereacross controlvoltages of one polarity in response to av change inv current flowtherethrough in one direction and control voltages of oppositepolarities in response to a change in eurrentlow therethrough in thereverse direction, and a plurality ofl transfer electronic circuitselectrically interconnecting'each of said choke circuits with anassociated one of said second plurality of iiipiiop circuits andoperating in response to said control voltages of one polarity of saidchoke circuits, means transferring said binary number from saidl secondplurality of flip-flop circuits back to said iirst plurality of nip-flopcircuits in one digit displacement. with respect to the original storageposition ofy said number therein and for controlling thek direction ofdisplacement of said digits, said means comprising a second plurality ofchoke circuits electrically connected one to each of saidsecond'plurality of flip-nop circuits lfor current flow therethrough inresponse to a particular actuation of said flip-Hop circuit associatedtherewith and having thereacross control voltages of one polarity inresponse to a change in current flow therethrough in one direction andcontrol voltages of opposite polarities in response to a change incurrent flow therethrough in the reverse direction, and a plurality ofshift right and shift left gate electronic circuits electricallyconnected between said second plurality of choke circuits and saidplurality of numbers actuating circuits in a predetermined order and"operating in response to` said control voltages ofone polarity of saidsecond plurality of`choke circuits and means cooperatively controllingthe operation of said shift left and shift right gate circuits.

4; A shiftingregister for binary numbers comprising a iirst and a secondplurality of flip-flop circuits, eachof said circuits comprising a gridbiased' electronic clear actuated tube and a gridbiasedelectronicnumbers actuated tube, an anode in each or said tubes,and connections for connectingsaid tubes to an electric supply sourceeach through an anode resistor and for electrically interconnecting saidtubes to conduct current alternately in response to a predeterminedvariation `in the anode voltages thereof, means varying the anodevoltage ofleach of said clear actuated tubes of said first plurality ofhip-flop circuits to produce conduction in said clear actuated tubes andthereby store a particular binary character in each of' said rstplurality of nipflop circuits, said means comprising a first plu- 1lirality of electronic clear actuating circuits, and a grid biasedelectronic tube in each of said clear actuating circuits, each of saidtubes being electrically connected to the anode of an associated clearactuated tube of said first plurality of flip-flop circuits and to apoint of lower Voltage potential, and said grids of said clear tubes insaid actuating circuits being electrically connected to a common sourceof electric impulse to control the operation of said clear actuatingcircuits, means varying the anode voltage of any of said numbersactuated tubes of said lirst plurality of iiip-lop circuits to store abinary character diierent from said particular character in selectedones of said first plurality of flip-flop circuits thereby to representin said rst plurality of circuits any particular binary number, saidmeans comprising a first plurality of grid biased electronic numbersactuating circuits electrically connected each to the anode plate of adiiferent one of said numbers actuated tubes of said iirst plurality offlip-flop circuits and to a point of lower voltage potential, and a gridbiased electronic tube in each of said numbers actuating circuits, saidgrids of said tubes being electrically connected each to an appropriatesource of electrical impulse to control the operation of said numbersactuating circuits, means transferring a particular binary number storedin said iirst plurality of flip-flop circuits to said second pluralityof flip-flop circuits in corresponding digit relationship, said meanscomprising a second plurality of electronic clear actuating circuitselectrically connected one between the anode of each of said clearactuated tubes in said second plurality of flip-flop circuits and apoint of lower Voltage potential, a grid biased electronic tube in eachof said second plurality of clear actuating circuits, said grids of saidtubes in said second plurality of clear actuating circuits beingelectrically connected to a second common source of voltage impulse tocontrol the operation of said second plurality of actuating circuits, aplurality of choke coils each electrically connected in series With adiierent one of said numbers actuated tubes of said first p-lu rality ofcircuits, a plurality of electronic transfer circuits electricallyconnected one to the anode of each of said numbers actuated tubes insaid second plurality or flip-flop circuits and to a point of lowervoltage potential, and a grid biased electronic tube in each of saidtransfer circuits, said grids of said tubes in said plurality oftransfer circuits being electrically connected each to a particular oneof said choke coils to actuate said tubes of said transfer circuits toconductive condition, and means shifting said binary number back to saidfirst plurality of lip-flop circuits in one digit displacement Withrespect to the original stored position of said number therein, saidmeans comprising a second plurality of choke circuits each electricallyconnected in series With a different one of said numbers actuated tubesof said second plurality of iiip-ilop circuits, and a plurality of shiftright and shift left gate electronic circuits electrically connected ina predetermined order to said numbers actuated tubes of said rstplurality of flipflop circuits, to said second plurality of chokecircuits and to a plurality of selective voltage sources to control thedirection of shift of said binary number in the transfer thereof fromsaid second plurality of flip-flop circuits back to said first pluralityof flip-flop circuits.

5. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising a first and asecond plurality of flip-flop circuits, each of said circuits comprisinga grid biased electronic clear actuated tube and a grid biasedelectronic numbers actuated tube, an anode in each of said tubes, andconnections for connecting said tubes to a source of Voltage eachthrough an anode resistor and for electrically interconnecting saidtubes to conduct current alternately in response to a predeterminedvariation in the anode voltages thereof, means varying the anode Voltageof each of said clear actuated tubes of said first plurality of nip-flopcircuits to produce conduction in said clear actuated tubes and therebystore a particular binary character in each of said rst plurality ofcircuits, means varying the anode voltage of said numbers actuated tubesof said lirst plurality of circuits to store a binary characterdiiierent from said particular character in selected ones of said rstplurality of circuits thereby to store in said rst plurality of circuitsa particular binary number, means transferring said particular binarynumber stored in said rst plurality of flip-dop circuits to said Secondplurality of flipflop circuits in corresponding digit relationship, saidmeans comprising a plurality of electronic clear actuating circuitselectrically connected one between the anode of each of said clearactuated tubes in said second plurality of flip-flop circuits and apoint of lower Voltage potential, a grid biased electronic tube in eachof said clear actuating circuits, said grids of said tubes in saidplurality of clear actuating circuits being electrically connected to acommon source of voltage impulse to control the operation of saidplurality of actuating circuits, a plurality of choke coils eachelectrically connected in series with a different one of said numbersactuated tubes of said rst plurality of ip-ilop circuits, a plurality ofelectronic transfer circuits electrically connected one to the anode ofeach of said numbers actuated tubes in said second plurality offlip-flop circuits and to a point of lower voltage potential, and a gridbiased electronic tube in each of said transfer circuits, said grids ofsaid tubes of said plurality of transfer circuits being electricallyconnected each to a particular one of said choke coils to actuate saidtransfer tubes to conductive condition, and means shifting said binarynumber back to said rst plurality of iiipflop circuits in one digitdisplacement with respect to the original stored position of said numbertherein, said means comprising a second plurality of choke circuits eachelectrically connected in series with a different one of said numbersactuated tubes of said second plurality of flip-flop circuits, and aplurality of shift right and shift left gate electronic circuitselectrically connected in a predetermined order to said numbers actuatedtubes of said first plurality of flipop circuits, to said secondplurality of choke circuits and to a plurality of selective Voltagesources to control the direction of shift of said binary number in thetransfer thereof from said second plurality of flip-flop circuits backto said first plurality of flip-nop circuits.

6. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising a first and asecond plurality of flip-flop circuits, each of said circuits comprisinga grid biased electronic clear actuated tube and a grid biasedelectronic numbers actuated tube, an anode in each of said tubes, andconnections for connecting said tubes to an electric supply source eachthrough an anode resistor and for electrically interconnecting saidtubes to conduct current cineasta:

'13 alternately in response to` a predeterminedvariation in the anodevoltages thereof, means varying the anode voltage of each of said clearactuated tubes of said first plurality of ip-op circuits to produceconduction in said clear actuated tubes and thereby store a particularbinary character in each of said first plurality of circuits, meansvarying the anode voltage of any of said numbers actuated tubes of saidfirst plurality of circuits to store a binary character different fromsaid particular character in selected ones of said irst plurality offlip-nop circuits thereby to represent in said i'lrst plurality of'circuits any particular binary number7 means transferring saidparticular binary number stored in said first plurality of flip-dopcircuits to said second plurality of iiip-flop circuits in correspondingdigit relationship, said means comprising a plurality of electricimpulse responsive actuating members electrically connected one to eachof said clear actuated tubes of said second plurality cf nip-flopcircuits and to a common source of positive electric impulse, apluralityA of impulse producing circuits each electrically connected inseries with a different one of said numbers actuated tubes of said firstplurality of flipflop circuits, and a plurality of electric impulseresponsive transfer actuating members, said numbers actuated tubes ofsaid first plurality of flip-nop circuits being electrically connectedto said numbers actuated tubes of said second plurality of flip-flopcircuits in a predetermined order through said plurality of transferactuating members, and said transfer actuating members beingelectrically connected to and operated by said impulse producingcircuits, and means shifting said binary number back to said rstplurality of flip-nop circuits in one digit displacement with respect tothe original stored position of said number therein, said meanscomprising a second plurality of electric impulse producing circuitseach electrically connected in series with a diiferent one of saidnumbers actuated tubes of said second plurality of Hip-flop circuits,and a plurality of shift right and shift left gate electronic circuitselectrically connected in a predetermined order to said numbers actuatedtubes of said rst plurality of flip-flop circuits, to said ,secondplurality of impulse producing circuits and to a plurality of selectivevoltage sources to control the direction of shift of said binary numberin the transfer thereof from said second plurality of nip-flop circuitsback to said rst plurality of flip-flop circuits.

'7. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising a first and asecond set of electronic flipfiop circuits, each of said flip-liepcircuits comprising a clear tube and a numbers tube provided each withan anode and connections for connecting said tubes to a source ofvoltage, each through an anode resistor, andfor electricallyinterconnecting said tubes each to conduct current selectively inresponse to a decrease in its anode Voltage, means for simultaneouslydecreasing the anode voltages of all of the clear tubes in said firstset to make them conducting to represent a rst binary character in eachof the flip-nop circuits of said first set, means for reducing the anodevoltage of all of the clear tubes in said second set simultaneously tomake them conducting to represent said rst binary character in each ofthe nip-flop circuits of said second set, means for reducing the anodevoltage of selected numbers tubes in said iirst set to make eachconducting to represent a second binary characterV in saidA rst set,means responsive tothe change .in anode current in each numbers tube: insaid rst setv when it is made nonconducting nary character in saidsecond set, transfer-backV means responsive to changes in the anodecurrent in each numbers tube in said second set when it is madenonconducting for making conducting. the next' adjacent left and rightnumberstubes in said first set, and means for selectively disabling saidtransfer-back means to control the direction of shift during suchtransfer` back to said first set.

8. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising arst Vand a secondset of electronic flipilop circuits, each of said fiip-op circuitscomprising a clear actuated tube and a numbers actuated tube providedeach With an anode and connections for connecting said tubes to asourceof voltage, each through an anode resistor, and.

for electrically interconnecting said tubes each to conduct currentselectively in response to a decrease 'in its anode voltage, meanscomprising a first plurality of clear actuating tubes electricallyconnected each to a particular one of said clear actuated tubes in saidfirst set and connections for connecting said rst plurality.

of clear actuating tubes to a common source of positive voltage pulse t0simultaneously decrease the anode voltage of all of the clear tubes insaid rst set to make them conducting to represent one binary characterin each of the iiip-iiop circuits of said iirst set, means comprising asecond plurality of clear actuating tubes electrically connected each toa particular one of said clear actuated tubes in said second set andconnections for connecting said second plurality of clear actuatingtubes to a second common source of positive voltage pulse to reduce theanode voltage of all of the clear actuated tubes in said second setsimultaneously to make them conducting to represent said one binarycharacter in each of the nip-flop circuits of said second set, meanscomprising a first plurality of numbers actuating tubes electricallyconnected each to a particular one of said numbers actuated tubes insaid iirst set and connections for connecting each of said numbersactuating tubes to a separate source of positive voltage pulse to reducethe anode Vol+- age of selective numbers actuated tubes in said iirstset to make each conducting to represent a second binary character insaid lirst set, means comprising a iirst plurality of voltage impulseproducing means and a second plurality of numbers actuating tubes, oneimpulse producing means and one numbers actuating tube beingelectrically connected between each numbers actuated tube of said firstset and a corresponding numbers actuated tube of said second set to makea corresponding numbers tube in said second set conducting to rep-resenta second binary character in said second set in response to the changein anode current in each numbers tube in said iirst set when it is madenonconducting, transfer-back means comprising a second plurality ofvoltage impulse producing means electrically connected one to each ofsaid numbers actuated tubes of said second set and a plurality of shiftleft and shift right gate means electrically connected in apredetermined order to said second plurality of impulse producing meansand to said numbers actuated tubes of said first set to make conductingthe next adjacent left and right numbers actuated tubes in said rst setin response t0 changes in the anode current in each numbers actuatedtube in said second set when it is made nonconducting, and meanscomprising connections for connecting said shift left and shift rightgate means to separate suitable sources of selective voltage bias forselectively disabling said shift left and shift right gate means tocontrol the direction of shift during transfer back to said rst set.

9. A shifting register for binary numbers comprising a rst plurality ofiiip-lop circuits, means for actuating each of said circuits torepresent the character of a particular digit of a binary number therebyto store and clear said binary number in said circuits, said meanscomprising a plurality of clear actuating electronic circuits and aplurality of numbers actuating electronic circuits, one clear actuatingcircuit and one numbers actuating circuit being electrically connectedto each of said flipeiiop circuits, means for operating selected ones ofsaid numbers actuating electronic circuits to store a particular binarynumber in said plurality of flip-flop circuits, means for simultaneouslyoperating all of said clear actuating electronic circuits teclear saidflip-nop circuits of said particular binary number stored therein, asecond plurality of flip-nop circuits each associated with a particularone of said first plurality of iiip-op circuits, and means responsive tothe operation of said first plurality of flip-nop circuits in responseto the operation of said clear actuating electronic circuits fortransferring said binary number from said rst plurality of nip-flopcircuits to said second plurality of nip-flop circuits.

ROBERT A. EDWARDS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Interim Progress Reports on the Physical Realization of anElectronic Computing Instrument, Bigelow et al., The Institute forAdvanced Study, Princeton, N. J. Third Report, Jan. l, 1948, pages47458. Fourth Report, July l, 1948, pages III-1 to III-5.

